OUUC Weekly Update 1-12-21
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service January 17, one online service at 10:00 am
“Making Dreams Real”- Rev. Mary Gear
Join us for Online Worship.
Listen to sermons here. See recordings of online services here.
There will be a Q&A session at 11:30 am. Join Sara Lewis and Rev. Mary Gear to learn about our Faith in Action ministry.
Thursday Evening Spiritual Practice 7:00 pm
Thursday evening spiritual practices this week will be “Under the Poet Tree” with Sara Lewis and the poetry of Shel Silverstein. Come for a mix of the playful and the contemplative as we explore the theme of Imagination with poetry.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81051325520?pwd=NjdXM25OMThVRytydWtQQ0lJZmtMQT09
Meeting ID: 810 5132 5520
Passcode: 690200
Tech Tip
Starting Thursday, January 21, join OUUC Media Specialist Jo Sahlin each week for an open office hour. Jo’s Zoom room will be accessible from 11:00 am - noon every Thursday.
Having trouble finding Zoom links to Sunday services? Not sure how to log in to OUUC Connect/Realm? Confused about the difference between OUUC Connect and Realm? (Hint: There is none!) This is an opportunity to ask any questions or touch base with Jo about anything related to media and technology at OUUC. Read more.
"Vaccinating Rhythm" Congregational Cabaret
Saturday, January 16 at 4:30 pm.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87301835355?pwd=K3RDTUJCU2EzS3ZmeW5DK2N5MFZYZz09
Meeting ID: 873 0183 5355
Passcode: 080560
If you haven’t submitted an entry, it’s not too late. We would love to hear you. Please join in on Saturday at 4:30 pm. Bring your own refreshments. Contact Troy Fisher for information.
Join the Blue Apron Team
All are welcome to join the "Blue Apron Team" on January 20, and 27, by donating shelf-stable foods for the Lacey Family Center's food pick-up days or help provide a main or side dish to serve 8 for the guests at the Interfaith Works Adult Shelter. All donations can be brought between 4:15 and 4:45 pm to the parking lot of the Olympia Copy Center, located on Franklin Street, and across from the Shelter. Need more information? Please contact Jo Ann Young.
Anti-Racist Small Group Ministry
What do we do in this era of white supremacy? If you want to join us on the road to freedom with action, reflection, and theory, join this small group ministry. In our hearts, we may feel that knowing isn’t quite enough. Together we will begin to grow the energy, capacity, and skills we need to do the life long work of racial solidarity. Join Emi Allen and Anne Hundley, imperfect local racial justice organizers and members of OUUC, beginning in January and going through May. You are welcome as you are, accessibility is important to us. Queer and Trans friendly. Intersectional. Third Saturdays, 4:00 - 6:00 pm & First Saturdays, 4:00 - 4:45 pm. Register here.
Lunch Break Book Club!
The Origins of Our Discontents - In this seven-session book discussion group, we will read and discuss the new book Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Caste explores the history and sociology of America’s racialized system of hierarchy, with author Wilkerson exploring eight pillars that underlie caste systems. A combination of researched narratives and stories of real people, this work gives us hope for the future of our shared humanity. 7 sessions: Mondays noon-1:00 pm February 1 - March 15 Register here.
Active Hope
This Active Hope group will feature practices inspired by the book Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in Without Going Crazy and the organization, The Work that Reconnects, the brainchild of Joanna Macy and others. This will be part book group, part experiential exercises.
We will complete questions about our lives, including the hopes and feelings about what's happening to the world, and we’ll also take part in Zoom-adapted rituals that will help us deepen our connection to the natural world, our deep emotions, and our connections to each other and the larger society. This is a process of empowerment and transformation that moves in a spiral and is used to build inner strength, resilience, and the resolve to participate in our collective transition, also referred to as the Great Turning. Four Sessions, register here.
UU Common Read Discussion
Tuesdays February 23 and March 2, 7:00 pm. The 2020-21 UUA Common Read is Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry. Breathe reflects on race, racism, and the hope that one’s child will be wholly known and valued by society. It is “an unforgettable lesson in Black resistance and resilience.” The New York Times calls Breathe “an elixir of history, ancestry and compassion, which, together, become instruction…a parent’s unflinching demand, born of inherited trauma and love, for her children’s right simply to be possible.” Carol McKinley will facilitate these discussions. Register here.
The Theology of the Good Place
(ages 12+) Four sessions: Mondays, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, January 25, February 1, 8, and 15. Register here. The Good Place is a Netflix sitcom that takes place after death, where people wake up and are assured that everything is OK … they are in the “good” place. In this four-session class, we will explore the theology, ethics, and moral philosophy of the series using a UU lens. Participants will watch the clips of the show on their own time, and gather for discussion after, so a Netflix membership will be needed. Taught by Sara Lewis.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury, CT invites you to the ordination of Sierra-Marie Gerfao (she/her/hers) on January 24 at 4:00 pm EST/1:00 pm Pacific. The service will take place on Zoom. Please RSVP to officemanager@uudanbury.org. Those who RSVP will receive the Zoom link via email on the morning of the service. Sierra-Marie was Director of Religious Education at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation from 2002-2007. Thank you for helping us celebrate as Sierra-Marie is ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister.
The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons
This course will be offered twice: Tuesday, February 9 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm and Thursday, February 11 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Instructor: Joanne Dufour, member of the Olympia Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons. The passage and coming into force of the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons has energized the anti-nuclear community worldwide. This class will introduce this new international law,
explain how it came to be and its implications for the future of nuclear weapons. The work of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Codepink with its Don’t Bank on the Bomb campaign will be included along with ideas for individual action.
Register here.
“Tell Me Who You Are” class Tuesday, February 16 at 7:00 pm
Tell Me Who You Are invites participants to focus on what aspects of one’s life are the most important. Between classes, attendees will write either a personal statement or an obituary for themselves. Perhaps traveling has made you open to different cultural ideas and practices. Being from a large family, or having one sibling, may impact you in a variety of ways. What events in your life continue to affect you, and how? Reading excerpts about the people featured in the book Tell Me Who You Are, by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi, will suggest what you may want to include in your personal statement, or in your obituary, which we will share. Persons who attended the class when it was offered previously are welcome to participate again. If you are new to OUUC, you may find a connection to new friends. Sandra was a school teacher for 28 years in the Olympia School District, focusing on writing with middle and high school students. She has a strong interest in psychology. Register here.
Environmental Action News
Armed Invasion at State Parks? The US Navy has requested expansion of special operations training for Navy SEALS from 5 to 29 Washington State Parks along the coast and Puget Sound. State Parks staff have issued a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance under SEPA! Read the SEPA and Navy documents. Written comments from the public are due on January 22. Fracked Gas-to-Methanol Refinery in Kalama? Northwest Innovation Works proposes building two of the world’s largest fracked gas-to-methanol refineries in Kalama, WA, and Port Westward, OR and the associated Kalama Lateral fracked gas pipeline. In May 2019, Governor Inslee pulled his support for the projects. On December 21, 2020, the Washington Department of Ecology released a final Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to address the climate impacts of the Kalama methanol refinery. The State of Washington has until January 20, 2021, to approve or deny a key permit for the methanol refinery. Write Governor Inslee and the Department of Ecology of your concerns.
Quick Notes
Worship Workshop, Saturday, January 30, 1:00 - 3:30 pm. Join Rev. Mary, Troy, and Sara to explore the art of making worship. Open to all who are interested in worship arts.
Still room to sign up for a Learning Circle, starting this Friday at noon. Facilitated by Sara Lewis, this circle will meet to explore and share on our lifelong learning journeys on the 3rd Friday of each month, noon-1:15pm. Small Groups, Covenant and Learning Circles « OUUC
Joy in the Mail - Would you like to spread some cheer by writing cards to others? We are organizing to send cards to our folks with birthdays or who could use some extra cheer. Sign up to be a card writer by emailing Sara Lewis and you will get a list of recipients.
Pacific Western Regional Assembly - Saturday, February 13, 2021, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm PST
Find out more here: Pacific Western Regional Assembly | Pacific Western Region | UUA.org
Our Sunday worship service will be live on our OUUC YouTube channel as well as on Zoom. You can still participate in Sunday worship through Zoom. Those who would like to try the YouTube option can do so here.
See a list of online meetings that you might attend here.
The Virtual Bulletin Board is a place for members to share information about events in the larger community, ask for recommendations, and share resources. Email to sign up.
Ways to Give - Did you know you can donate to OUUC by text message? Just text "OUUC" and "amount" to 73256. You can also donate online by visiting our secure online giving page.
About Us
Sara Lewis, Director of Faith Development
Darlene Sarkela, Congregational Administrator
Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant
Email: liberalfaith@ouuc.org
Website: http://ouuc.org
Location: 2315 Division Street Northwest, Olympia, WA, United States
Phone: 3607866383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlympiaUUC/
Twitter: @OlyUUC